Highly selective methoxycarbonylation of aliphatic diamines with methyl phenyl carbonate to the corresponding methyl N-alkyl dicarbamates

The reactivity parameters of aliphatic diamines such as 1,6-hexanediamine, 1,3-bis(aminomethyl)benzene and 1,3-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, with methyl phenyl carbonate, were investigated under mild conditions. Methoxycarbonylation of aliphatic diamines with methyl phenyl carbonate proceeds selectively in the absence of a catalyst, quantitatively converting aliphatic diamines to the corresponding methyl N-alkyl dicarbamates at 323-363 K.